Should I remove dead shrimp?

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sfinster

Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by sfinster »

I set up my tank in June. 1 gallon, 10 shrimp, 1 nerite snail. When the snail died I didn't replace it. For a long time I could, occasionally, spot all 9 shimp. I saw many molts. In September I spotted a berried female. I'm not sure if the eggs hatched or she dropped them. I haven't noticed any babies. However, this week I have lost 2 adult shrimp. Should I remove them from the water? It would be hard to get to them, and I'm afraid it would disturb things too much. I do plan to do a water change, and perhaps move the tank from my office to my home, because I think they'll be warmer there.
sliphorn
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Re: Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by sliphorn »

sfinster wrote: Fri Nov 22, 2019 8:23 am I set up my tank in June. 1 gallon, 10 shrimp, 1 nerite snail. When the snail died I didn't replace it. For a long time I could, occasionally, spot all 9 shimp. I saw many molts. In September I spotted a berried female. I'm not sure if the eggs hatched or she dropped them. I haven't noticed any babies. However, this week I have lost 2 adult shrimp. Should I remove them from the water? It would be hard to get to them, and I'm afraid it would disturb things too much. I do plan to do a water change, and perhaps move the tank from my office to my home, because I think they'll be warmer there.
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Did you remove the snail when it died? Something is wrong if you lost two shrimp in a week. Remove the dead shrimp and do a water change. Can you siphon the dead shrimp with some airline tubing? A one gallon tank has no room for error.
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sfinster

Re: Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by sfinster »

I removed the snail as soon as it died, a few months ago. The dead shrimp that I can still see is inside a log, and will cause much disturbance to remove. I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, the past 2 days the rest of the shrimp seem much more happy and active.
Mustafa
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Re: Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by Mustafa »

No need to remove dead shrimp unless you have mass population die-off. But then, you have much bigger problems also. Other shrimp, snails will eat the dead shrimp and it will become part of the nutrient cycle in your tank.
Flanker27S
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Re: Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by Flanker27S »

Thanks for the explanation! I'm a newcomer to shrimp keeping and removed my "first" dead shrimp as soon as I noticed, fearing it would make the water toxic due to decomposition or gather bacteria. Now I'll know they can just be left as food for other inhabitants of the tank!
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Re: Should I remove dead shrimp?

Post by Mustafa »

No problem at all! :)
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